Battle of the air bands

The Battell Park bandshell was the stage for Air Jam 2005, the annual lip-sync contest marking the end of Mishawaka Parks and Recreation Department's summer park programs. On stage are the "Sassy Sisters" of Camp Tawanchi -- from left, Carlee Daniels, 11, of Niles; Elizabeth Laubner, 9, and Maxx Silber, 10, of Mishawaka; Kara Casey, 10, of South Bend; and Mackinzie Grannan, 9, of Mishawaka. Tribune Photos/GREG SWIERCZ Mishawaka park director Ashlee Paulinski plays air guitar while fellow program director Blair Wagenblast sings along to the "Saved By the Bell" television theme song during Friday's Air Jam 2005 in Battell Park. Paulinski works at Mary Gibbard, while Blair worked this summer in Battell Park. Chris Milliken, 9, of South Bend, is too cool as he offers up a little bit of air saxophone during Friday's Air Jam 2005 in the Battell Park bandshell. Tribune Photo/GREG SWIERCZ

Air guitar aficionados had something to cheer about Friday during the Mishawaka Parks & Recreation Department's annual end-of-season "Air Jam."

There was the After Hours Gang from Camp Tawanchi, doing "Lunch Lady Land."

There was William Walls, an 11-year-old Emmons student who backed up a girl group from Hillis Hans that included Latanya Jenkins, 12.

There were bright yellow inflatable "air guitars" and hot pink plastic microphones.

And there were the directors of the five parks themselves, doing the theme song from the "Saved By the Bell" television show, dancing around desks lined up on the Battell stage.

"It basically just signifies the end of the park program," said Carmen Maes, director of recreation for Mishawaka.

The talent show was held in the Battell Park bandshell before a crowd of proud parents and grandparents.

"All the parks got together, and this is a lip-synching contest, basically," Maes said.

Kids from Battell, Hillis Hans, Rose, Mary Gibbard and Merrifield parks came to show off and be silly.

But they also talked about their camp experiences.

"We went swimming and everything," William said.

"We did activities, we did crafts. I think it's a great experience. We have a whole group," he added, waiting to lip-sync Ciara's "One, Two Step" with the SLIM girls.

Dayton Torma, 2, danced on a picnic table as his 6-year-old sister, Briana Howe, a LaSalle Elementary student, danced up on stage.

"They loved it," said Judy Lamon, grandmother of the dynamic duo.

"This has been the best, the whole parks program -- having a place where they could go and be safe," she said.

Elaine Veevaete, executive director of Camp Fire USA River Bend Council, had dozens of kids from her Camp Tawanchi program at Air Jam 2005.

"We have some really cute acts, I think," Veevaete said.

"There's one, the 'Monster Mash,' that's just adorable."

Sure enough, first- and second-graders dressed in Halloween outfits danced and sang to the Bobby "Boris" Picket classic.

A group from Battell Park's program called itself The Roses and chose a song taught at Oak Creek Community Church's vacation Bible school, "He's the King of Everything."

The group included 10-year-old Hannah Garton of Mishawaka, a fourth-grader at Battell Elementary in the fall who knew the hand signs to go with the praise music.

Mandy Munro of Mishawaka had two children -- 6-year-old Harmony and 4-year-old Sage -- who spent the summer in the Mary Gibbard program, she said.

"They're doing 'God Bless the U.S.A.,' " Munro said.

As for Harmony, she said she was excited.

"I've never been on the stage before," Harmony said.

But she did fine -- and when it was all over, Maes said she couldn't choose a winner.

All children were getting little red backpacks with drawstrings. But Maes had planned to give certificates to those who came in first, second and third places.

"We just decided to inform everybody that they're all winners this year," Maes said.

"They've all worked so hard and it was so close," she said. "I hate to start segregating out first, second and third.

"They're all winners."

Staff writer Laureen Fagan:

39 Munroe

Always standing proud on the corner anxiously awaiting our Arrival

Old window panes waving, in the dusk, as we rounded the bend

Bob in his chair, legs crossed, paper in hand

Nanny at the kitchen sink, peering out the window

Or the old fashioned key was always there above the porch

Letting everyone in, before the screen door would slam

Generations of us

Burst through the door with excitement

Visiting Nanny and Bob

The last day of school

Or getting asked to prom

Anticipation of fresh chocolate chip cookies baked bread

Lumbered through the door

Angry with mother, daughter, father, son, brother, sister, husband, wife, cousin

Dates at the front and the back

Not to mention the dogs, all of the dogs

Returning from weddings, births, funerals and

Births again

Love swirled always

With dashes of disappointment

Hints of jealousy

Anger and anxiety

Misunderstanding

Glorious Joy

Life

But always swirling with Love

I envision in the house, at quiet times

Wisps of our selves past

Flutter

Up the front stairs and down the back

For diapers and midnight feedings

For shoes and slippers to go and to stay

For sweatshirts and footballs and hats and hand knit mittens

Laughing out loud

Veils and cameras and Easter hats

To chase and to get away

Early to bed and early to rise….

For hot chocolate in the early morn, the sky pink outside

Last potty trips and walk-throughs before the long ride home

Time has come and gone

The house has stayed the same

Full of memories and difficulties and sweetness and Life

It has always been there

But Time has come and gone

39 Munroe and all that it stands for in our hearts and tears and joy

will always be there

will always be the same